argumentative essay topics for consumerism

130 Consumerism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best consumerism topic ideas & essay examples.

• 👍 Good Essay Topics on Consumerisms

📑 Interesting Topics to Write about Consumerism

💡 good research topics about consumerism, ❓ questions about consumerism.

• Consumerism-Effects on Society and Environment Some of these considerations that the consumers do not mind are their need for the product and the durability of the product. They also do not mind the effects of the manufacture and disposal of […]
• Consumerism Positive and Negative Aspect This is also believed to be the cause of materialism in the society. It is, therefore, a movement that is driven by spending of huge sums of money on such things as advertisements without taking […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Consumerism Culture: Challenges and Solutions In order to avoid further spread of consumerism and its influence on popular culture, the government should introduce change to the education of children and their parents.
• Consumerism and the American Culture This includes the way that the space is organized in order to facilitate the shopping experience and the study of how to display products in such a way as to encourage shoppers to purchase them.
• Can Green Consumerism Be Anything More Than a Band-Aid Solution? Campaigns to inculcate the concepts of green consumerism are on and echoed in an abundant way all over the world but the question as to whether “green marketing contribute to the greening of a states […]
• Consumerism and Happiness To the surprise of Luedicke and Giesler, “The more goods produced and consumed in the society the higher the growth rate of the economy”.
• “Ethical Consumerism Is Not Dead” by Julie Irwin Lastly, the article gives hope to readers and explains that the absence of robust ethical consumerism behavior does not mean that this practice is dead.
• “Barbie: Queen of Dolls and Consumerism” by Amy Lin In giving a historical review, the author argues that the emergence of Barbie was a logical succession following the dominance of the images of a mother and a housewife during the Baby Boomers’ epoch.
• Fashion Consumerism and Its Negative Effects The fashion industry is one of the fields that is consumerism saturated the most. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic caused another wave of consumerism in fashion because people felt alone and bored.
• Consumerism: Affecting Families Living in Poverty in the United States Hence, leading to the arising of consumerism protection acts and policies designed to protect consumers from dishonest sellers and producers, which indicates the high degree of consumer’s ignorance, and hence failure to make decisions of […]
• Fight Club – Analysis of Consumerism If the cost of a recall is expected to be higher than the cost of dealing with lawsuits, initiated by unsatisfied customers, the car-manufacturing company will not move a finger: “Take the number of vehicles […]
• What Are Some of the Contradictions of Consumerism? In economic, consumerism refers to the belief that the customers should dictate the economic structure of the society The entry of consumerism in the market in 1960’s saw the shift and change in the shopping […]
• Graphic Design Effect on Industry and Consumerism One of the tools designed to draw buyers’ attention is the use of graphic elements, including the color of the product, its shape, the principle of displaying information on the package, and some other components.
• Future Legislation on Health Care Consumerism The issues of escalating costs and prices of health care as well as poor quality of services should be adequately addressed.
• Wealthy & Educated vs. Poor & Uneducated Americans on Consumerism In this paper, the author analyzed the attitudes of wealthy and educated and poor and uneducated Americans towards consumerism. The impacts of these inadequate qualifications are reflected in the society and in the economy of […]
• Dynamics of the Chinese Consumer and Its Influence on Consumerism The main factor that accounts for the rapid increase in disposable income in China is the market-oriented reforms that have been implemented by the government.
• Consumerism Strategy in “A Health Plan Work in Progress” by Tynan The main points which are discussed in the article are the ramp-up of price and quality transparency efforts in health plans, applying consumerism strategy in health plans perceiving the idea that competition motivates health plan […]
• Sexual Consumerism: A Case for Advertising As such, identifying the use of sexual consumerism in public media characterized by the presentation of sexually appealing adverts is key in explaining the current advertising as an emerging issue.
• Thinking Beyond my American Consumerism’ by Tiffany Anderson: The Need for Transformation in Consumer Habits Sometimes, these companies offer the best products in the market, and buyers cannot avoid them. The girl in Anderson’s story is a good example of consumers who buy their goods because of these reasons.
• How Consumerism Has Shaped America Conversely, the role played by Christianity and cultural celebrations in terms of influencing the consumer culture and the stake of women in shaping the traditions of different holidays are attributable to the spirit of consumerism […]
• Sony Camera Poster: Graphics in Consumerist Culture Furthermore, it explains the size of the camera and went on the reveal that it’s a digital camera with all the features, durability and reliability of a digital camera.
• Consumerism and American Popular Culture The global community has experienced the impact of advertising and the development of popular culture in terms of change of cultural values and establishment of the international ones.
• Consumerism: Does the Community Need a Lot of Goods on Supermarket Shelves? In practice, the definition of what is good to society is the hardest thing to have because what may be termed to be good may indirectly cause the creation of some evil.
• 1950’s Consumerism and Car Culture During this car consumerism period, the power of owning a car mostly was viewed as a certain social class privilege and also to some was a demand.
• American Youth: Consumerism and Consumption Issues Therefore, advertisements are used to create awareness to the public about products and services that are available in the market. This is because the teenagers believe the slogans that are used in advertisements and they […]
• Hegemony and American Consumerism: Is This the Opiate of the Masses? Corporate America knows this, and they have the secret to survival in a free market: words.”Religion is the opiate of the people” is one of the most frequently quoted statements of Karl Marx.
• America in the Post War Period: Consumerism The economic prosperity of the nation also led to the adoption of a new urban lifestyle that greatly impacted the moral fabric of the cities, altered race relations, and shaped the place of women in […]
• Quotes on Consumerism Analysis Discussing the problem the author concludes that the marketplace is determined not by the manufacturers and marketers but by the very consumers.
• Lakota Religion vs. Secular Religion of Consumerism In the border of European religious reflection, religions present a general quality, the “brand of patriarchal religious thought”: the splitting up of the world in two broad domains, one consecrated, the other blasphemous Religion is […]
• Health Care Consumerism Definition Firstly, healthcare companies have to acknowledge that the change towards a new model of care is inevitable in the environment with high costs for consumers that allow them to demand better service.

👍 Good Essay Topics on Consumerism

• Consumerism & Commercialism in the 20th-Century US The end of the 19th and the start of the 20th century was the period marked by a colossal development of commercialism.
• Consumerism: Where Does Our Stuff Come From? One of the problems facing the global economy as highlighted by Annie Leonard that I have not considered previously is the role played by institutions in promoting the culture of consumption.
• Consumerism From the Sociological Perspective They also emphasized that there was a perception of healthy food as something boring and tasteless, and the perception should be rebutted, which is exactly what they were pursuing with opening the cafe.
• Consumerism in the 1960s in “A&;P“ by John Updike He also shows the way people responded to the opportunities and challenges of the new times. The girls seem to rebel against the system and conventions of the society, as they dare come into the […]
• “Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization” by Leonard This author likes to investigate numerous positive and negative aspects of Black Friday in order not to define the outcome of the event, but to explain that it is possible to have both normal and […]
• Consumerism in “The Ladies’ Paradise” and “Madame Bovary” The author contrasts the outer higher aspirations of the middle and higher class to the actual deception of moral code and vanity endorsed by it.
• Consumerism in American Society and Its Critique This culture is part of a popular myth in American contemporary society that advances the belief that gratification and social integration occurs through product ownership and the accumulation of material possessions.
• The Birth of a Consumerist Society Despite the obvious development of consumerism trends in the British society of the XVIII century, it would be wrong to claim that the phenomenon of consumerism as an uncontrolled desire to acquire new goods without […]
• China Society Consumerism in the Past Century It is necessary to underline that the rise of Communism in China and the activities of Mao Zedong had a certain impact on consumerism, and Chinese consumers had to changes their strategies and improve priorities […]
• China Society and Consumerism The major events that influenced on the development of the consumerist culture in China were: the establishment of China Republic in 1912 and its early years till the 1920s, Cultural Revolution and establishment of communism […]
• Consumerism in the Emirati Society Consumerism in this context, is defined as the economic and social arrangement that is grounded on an orderly conception nurturing of the need to buy products in big amounts.
• Environmental Studies: Transforming Cultures From Consumerism to Sustainability The trade fair portrayed the potential of the then and future civilizations to deploy technology, creativity, and innovation to create more consumables to boost the life of future generations.
• The Influence of Consumerism on 7-11 Years Children Moreover, families are trying to alleviate their children from threats of stigmatization and social identity by purchasing things to their children that will make them socially compatible with other children.
• Major Impacts of Consumerism in Contemporary World History This was spread to the rest of the world. Consumerism has necessitated the need to have advanced methods of doing business because products must be delivered to the market in mass, in time and of […]
• Value of Anti-Consumerist Movements Consumerism This is the conviction that the selling and buying of enormous quantities of consumer goods and services is valuable to the economy or an indication of how strong the economy is.
• Ethical Consumerism and Twinings Company The philosophy of the company is “to be totally committed to producing the highest quality tea brands and make them accessible to everyone”.
• The Phenomenon of Consumerism The peculiarities of consumerism as the social notion of the World War II period influenced the development of the women’s movements against the growth of the prices and even led to their controlling role within […]
• The Chinese Consumer Culture Phenomena Li observes that the concept of middle class began to be used in China in the late 1980s after the implementation of the reform and opening up policy The middle class category in China has […]
• Consumerism and Economic Crisis The world has barely recovered from the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008 and yet Europe is slowly gliding to a similar economic downturn.
• Gender and Consumer Culture In order to perpetuate a consumer culture, advertisements need to focus on the psychology of the recipient rather than the virtues of the product. In conclusion, Gender is a concept that captures the intersection of […]
• Design Culture: Product and Consumer If the manufacturer is able to redesign the products in order to change some specifications as required by the consumers, then the customers are likely to be loyal to the consumption of the brand.
• Consumerism Is Beneficial to U.S. Society That is, consumption of luxury products is thought to elevate a consumer’s social class. The desire to acquire the latest products in the market is a feeling shared by the social classes.
• Consumerism in Weeks Linton’s Article “Burden of the Modern Beast” Actually, consumption is a real mass phenomenon due to the fact that people have to use goods and services in order to exist in life.
• Exploring the Power of Consumerism as the Basis for Creating Countercultural Idea Exploring the Historical Trends and Ideologies of Consumerism It had long been considered that the consumerism and consumption patterns used to establish social limits among the existing social groups.
• Consumerism Through the History Later, the rise in production led to the rise in the problem of consumption. Massive production of goods and services has cultivated the culture to consume.
• Consumerism in Andrew Lam’s Book “The Perfume Dreams, Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora” Consumerism and not globalization is the new dawn and is the face of economic growth in many countries. As such increased demand for consumer goods and services leads to spurred growth in the production sector […]
• Consumerism in “Cloning the Consumer Culture” by Noreene Janus The process by which consumerism increases and retains the growth momentum is a consequence of the linkage between the growth of the economy, increase in the per capita income, raising consuption, increase in retail space […]
• The Type of Consumerism in the 21st Century But what came next was a testament to the spirit of the times there were products that were created as a direct result of the success of the book and the movie.
• Teachings of Buddha and Consumerism In conclusion, Buddha also offers a solution to the problem of suffering that man has. This is the balance that man must try to attain so as to avoid the ills that the culture of […]
• Consumerism Dangers in “No Logo” by Naomi Klein Klein believes marketing analysts concoct the perceived value of their products in their offices and sell them to the masses. The importance of this state of affairs in export processing zones like China is indicative […]
• American Consumerism Through the Eyes of Andy Warhol
• Gender Roles and the Profit Consumerism
• Buddhism, Consumerism, Environmental Crisis and War
• Fast Consumerism Aiding the Development of Type II Diabetes
• American Consumerism and the United States Environmental
• Clustering Consumers Who Engage in Boycotting: New Insights Into the Relationship Between Political Consumerism and Institutional Trust
• Consumerism and Control: Evidence From Swedish Central Government Agencies
• Managerialism, Consumerism and Performance Measurement of the Public Sector in the United States
• Blind Consumerism and the Basic Characteristics of a Consumer
• Competition, Consumerism, and the Other. Investigating the Ethics of Economic Competition
• Consumerism Taking Over Our Universities
• Children Consumerism, TV, and the Internet
• 18th Century Britain: Consumerism, Industrialization, and Social Change
• Consumerism: Advertising and People Brand Names
• Health Care Consumerism: New Marketing Trend
• Green Consumerism and Ecolabelling: A Strategic Behavioural Model
• Consumerism and Free Market Economy
• Comparing Consumerism and Christianity
• Capitalism and Consumerism Effects on the Division of Social Classes
• Consumerism Negatively Affects All Aspects Of Society
• Discussing Western World Turned Societies Fueled a Culture Consumerism Zombies
• New Culture and Consumerism in 1920’s Society
• Disposable Society: Capitalism and Consumerism Combined?
• Aesthetic Consumerism and the Violence of Photography: What Susan Sontag Teaches Us About Visual Culture and the Social Web
• Advertising and Consumerism: The Face of the 21st Century
• Can Green Consumerism Replace Environmental Regulation?
• Analysing the Impact of Consumerism Upon the Native American Peoples
• Changing Societal Demands: Consumerism
• Doll and Consumerism Lures
• Global Consumerism Has Lead to a Loss of Cultural Diversity
• Consumerism and the Effects of the Internet
• Consumerism, Corruption, and the Corporate Hegemony
• Explaining Consumerism Through the Ideas of Zygmunt Bauman
• Environmental Awareness, Green Consumerism and Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behaviour of Polish Seniors
• Consumerism and Its Effects on Our Society
• Harry Potter and the Consumerism of Azkaban
• American Consumerism and How It Evolved Since the First World War
• Advertising Promotes Excessive Consumerism
• 19th Century Trends, Consumerism, and Women’s Fashions
• Consumerism: Brand and Good Consumption Mentality
• How Does Consumerism Affect Outsourcing?
• How Do Citizenship Norms Differentiate Boycotting From Buycotting?
• What Are Advantages and Disadvantages of Consumerism?
• How Does Consumerism Affect the Meaning of American Freedom?
• What Are the Major Forces in Consumerism Today?
• How Did Consumerism Change the City of London?
• Which (Social) Facts Influence Consumerism?
• How Has Consumerism Influenced the Children of America?
• Are There Any Benefits in Consumerism?
• How Did Consumerism Shape the United States of America?
• What Is the Role of Product Labels (Like Food or Clothing Brands) in Consumerism?
• How Did Pop Art Challenge Beliefs in Consumerism?
• Do You Believe Special Occasions Like Christmas or Easter Have Become Too Consumeristic?
• How Did the Fashion Industry Show the Changing Position of Consumerism and Youth Culture in the 1960s?
• Is There a Way to Escape the Culture of Consumerism?
• How Does Consumerism Affect Religion and Spirituality?
• Do You Think There Are More Consumerist Women Than Men? Why?
• How Does the Work of Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons Refer to Consumerism?
• Are Teenagers and Children Becoming Consumerists Earlier?
• How Has Globalization and Consumerism Influenced Society and Consumer Ethical Values?
• Does Mass Media and Society Affect Teenage Consumerism?
• How Has Graphic Design Had on Popular Culture and Consumerism?
• In Your Opinion, Are Consumerist People Less Creative?
• How Did Psychoanalysis Change Society With Consumerism and Public Relations?
• What Is Ethical Consumerism?
• How Has the Internet Affected Consumerism?
• Is Consumerism a Pathology?
• How Does Consumerism Affect the Environment and Nature?
• Which Jobs Are Strictly Related to Consumerism?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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118 Consumerism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Consumerism is a pervasive force that shapes our society and influences our behavior as individuals. It revolves around the idea of acquiring and consuming goods and services in large quantities, often driven by the desire for status, identity, and satisfaction. With its profound impact on our lives, consumerism has become a popular subject of discussion and analysis. If you are tasked with writing an essay on consumerism, here are 118 topic ideas and examples to inspire and guide your writing process:

• The rise of consumerism in modern society.
• The history and evolution of consumerism.
• The impact of consumerism on the environment.
• Consumerism and its relationship with capitalism.
• The role of advertising in promoting consumerism.
• The psychological aspects of consumerism.
• The influence of social media on consumerism.
• The connection between consumerism and materialism.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal relationships.
• The effects of consumerism on mental health.
• Consumerism and its impact on children.
• The role of consumerism in shaping identity.
• Consumerism and its impact on cultural values.
• The influence of consumerism on fashion trends.
• Consumerism and its impact on the global economy.
• The ethics of consumerism.
• Consumerism and its impact on education.
• The relationship between consumerism and happiness.
• Consumerism and its impact on social inequality.
• The influence of consumerism on food choices.
• Consumerism and the rise of fast fashion.
• The impact of consumerism on waste generation and disposal.
• The role of consumerism in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Consumerism and the rise of online shopping.
• The connection between consumerism and debt.
• The impact of consumerism on local businesses.
• Consumerism and its impact on the labor market.
• The role of planned obsolescence in consumerism.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal freedom.
• The influence of consumerism on leisure activities.
• Consumerism and its impact on body image.
• The role of consumerism in the entertainment industry.
• The impact of consumerism on urban development.
• Consumerism and its impact on sustainable living.
• The influence of consumerism on travel and tourism.
• Consumerism and its impact on healthcare.
• The role of consumerism in the automotive industry.
• The impact of consumerism on cultural heritage.
• Consumerism and its impact on social activism.
• The influence of consumerism on technology adoption.
• Consumerism and its impact on privacy.
• The role of consumerism in the beauty industry.
• The impact of consumerism on personal values.
• Consumerism and its impact on globalization.
• The connection between consumerism and overconsumption.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal finance.
• The influence of consumerism on housing choices.
• Consumerism and its impact on mental well-being.
• The role of consumerism in shaping political ideologies.
• The impact of consumerism on the fashion industry.
• Consumerism and its influence on body modification.
• The relationship between consumerism and social status.
• Consumerism and its impact on social media influencers.
• The influence of consumerism on cultural appropriation.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal values and beliefs.
• The role of consumerism in the gaming industry.
• The impact of consumerism on the music industry.
• Consumerism and its influence on artistic expression.
• The connection between consumerism and addiction.
• Consumerism and its impact on privacy in the digital age.
• The influence of consumerism on personal happiness.
• Consumerism and its impact on food waste.
• The role of consumerism in shaping political campaigns.
• The impact of consumerism on public health.
• Consumerism and its influence on decision-making.
• The connection between fashion trends and consumerism.
• Consumerism and its impact on social media platforms.
• The influence of consumerism on holiday traditions.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal well-being.
• The role of consumerism in the film industry.
• The impact of consumerism on the music streaming industry.
• Consumerism and its influence on cultural assimilation.
• The connection between consumerism and social conformity.
• Consumerism and its impact on the fast food industry.
• The influence of consumerism on dietary choices.
• Consumerism and its impact on the video game industry.
• The role of consumerism in shaping gender roles.
• The impact of consumerism on personal relationships with nature.
• Consumerism and its influence on cultural appropriation in fashion.
• The connection between consumerism and advertising ethics.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The influence of consumerism on social media addiction.
• Consumerism and its impact on mental health during economic downturns.
• The role of consumerism in shaping beauty standards.
• The impact of consumerism on personal debt during economic crises.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal values during times of uncertainty.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during political campaigns.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal values during times of social unrest.
• The influence of consumerism on personal well-being during natural disasters.
• Consumerism and its role in shaping personal values in multicultural societies.
• The impact of consumerism on personal debt during college education.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal well-being during retirement.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during environmental activism.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal values during technological advancements.
• The role of consumerism in shaping dietary choices during health crises.
• The influence of consumerism on personal well-being during political campaigns.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal debt during holiday seasons.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during mental health awareness campaigns.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal values during cultural festivals.
• The impact of consumerism on personal well-being during job insecurity.
• Consumerism and its role in shaping beauty standards during body positivity movements.
• The influence of consumerism on personal well-being during social isolation.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal debt during housing market fluctuations.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during charity campaigns.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal values during technological dependency.
• The role of consumerism in shaping dietary choices during food scarcity.
• The impact of consumerism on personal well-being during natural resource depletion.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal values during political polarization.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during wellness trends.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal debt during economic recessions.
• The influence of consumerism on personal well-being during social media comparison.
• Consumerism and its role in shaping beauty standards during aging populations.
• The impact of consumerism on personal values during technological privacy concerns.
• The connection between consumerism and social media influencers during educational campaigns.
• Consumerism and its influence on personal well-being during healthcare disparities.
• The role of consumerism in shaping dietary choices during climate change.
• The influence of consumerism on personal well-being during social inequality.
• Consumerism and its impact on personal debt during global economic crises.

These essay topics provide a wide range of perspectives on consumerism, allowing you to choose an area that aligns with your interests or concerns. Remember to conduct thorough research, provide evidence-based arguments, and present a well-structured essay to effectively convey your ideas. Good luck!

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Essay About Consumerism: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Consumerism is the child of capitalism; Here is a list of essay about consumerism examples and prompts you can read to further your understanding.

The word consumerism can seem daunting to some, but it’s pretty simple. It is defined as “a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods.” In the consumerist theory, people’s spending on goods and services drives economic growth- their spending preferences and habits determine the direction a company will go next.

Many businesses practice consumerism. It is a common belief that you must adopt a consumerist approach to succeed in your trade. Consumerism refers to people’s prioritization of spending on goods and services. They have the drive to purchase more items continuously.

If you are writing an essay about consumerism, you can get started by reading these essay examples.

1. What You Need To Know About Consumerism by Mark Scott

2. long essay on consumerism by prasanna, 3. consumerism: want and new pair shoes by tony richardson, 4. my thoughts on being a blogger & consumerism by anna newton, 5. consumerism and its discontents by tori deagelis, 1. does consumerism affect your decisions , 2. opposing consumerism, 3. how does consumerism negatively affect mental health, 4. how does consumerism positively affect mental health, 5. do you agree with consumerism.

“Although consumerism drives economic growth and boosts innovation, it comes with a fair share of problems ranging from environmental and moral degradation to higher debt levels and mental health problems..”

Scott gives readers an overview of consumerism in economic and social terms. He then briefly discusses consumerism’s history, benefits, and disadvantages driving economic growth and innovation. It also raises debt, harms the environment, and shifts society’s values toward worldly possessions rather than other people. Scott believes it is perhaps most healthy to find a balance between love for others and material things. 

“Consumerism helps the consumers to seek redressal for their grievances against the unfair policies of the companies. It teaches the consumers about their rights and duties and helps them get better quality of products and services.”

In this essay, author Prasanna writes about the history of consumerism and its applications in India. First, it helps protect consumers from companies’ “unethical marketing practices.” For example, she cites policies put in place by the government to inspect food items, ensuring they are of good quality and prepared per sanitation standards. When used appropriately, consumerism serves the benefit of all. 

“Anything people see they buy without thinking twice and knowing that they already have brand new pair shoes they have not worn because there to focused on buying and buying till they see they no longer have space in their closet to put new shoes in.”

Richardson takes a personal approach to consumerism, recalling several of his friends’ hobbies of collecting expensive shoes. Advertisements and the pressure to conform play a big role in their consumerism, enticing them to buy more and more items. Richardson believes that consumerism blinds people to the fact that their standards and desires just keep increasing and that they buy shoes for unjustified reasons. Instead, society should be more responsible and remind itself that it needs to take importance above all.

“Take online creators out of the way for a minute, because the pressure to buy is everywhere and has been since the dawn of the dime. The floorplan of stores are set out in a way that makes you stomp around the whole thing and ultimately purchase more, ads on the TV, radio, billboards, in magazines discounts and promotions – it’s endless..”

In her blog The Anna Edit , Newton explains the relationship between blogging and consumerism. Bloggers and influencers may need to purchase more things, not only for self-enjoyment but to produce new content. However, she feels this lifestyle is unsustainable and needs to be moderated. Her attitude is to balance success with her stability and well-being by limiting the number of things she buys and putting less value on material possessions. 

“In a 2002 paper in the Journal of Consumer Research (Vol. 29, No. 3), the team first gauged people’s levels of stress, materialistic values and prosocial values in the domains of family, religion and community–in keeping with the theory of psychologist Shalom Schwartz, PhD, that some values unavoidably conflict with one another. ”

DeAngelis first states that it is widely believed that more desire for material wealth likely leads to more discontent: it prioritizes material things over quality time, self-reflection, and relationships. Increasing one’s wealth can help solve this problem, but it is only a short-term fix. However, a 2002 study revealed that the life satisfaction of more materialistic and less materialistic people is not different. 

Prompts on Essay about Consumerism

This is not something people think about daily, but it impacts many of us. In this essay, write about how you are influenced by the pressure to buy items you don’t need. Discuss advertising and whether you feel influenced to purchase more from a convincing advertisement. Use statistics and interview data to support your opinions for an engaging argumentative essay.

Consumerism has been criticized by economists , academics , and environmental advocates alike. First, research the disadvantages of consumerism and write your essay about why there has been a recent surge of its critics. Then, conduct a critical analysis of the data in your research, and create a compelling analytical essay.

Consumerism is believed to impact mental health negatively. Research these effects and write about how consumerism affects a person’s mental health. Be sure to support your ideas with ample evidence, including interviews, research data such as statistics, and scientific research papers.

Consumerism often gets a bad reputation. For an interesting argumentative essay, take the opposite stance and argue how consumerism can positively impact mental health. Take a look at the arguments from both sides and research the potential positive effects of consumerism. Perhaps you can look into endorphins from purchases, happiness in owning items, or even the rush of owning a unique item. 

In this essay, take your stance. Choose a side of the argument – does consumerism help or hinder human life? Use research to support both sides of the argument and pitch your stance. You can argue your case through key research and create an exciting argumentative essay.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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14 fascinating teacher interview questions for principals, tips for success if you have a master’s degree and can’t find a job, 14 ways young teachers can get that professional look, which teacher supplies are worth the splurge, 8 business books every teacher should read, conditional admission: everything you need to know, college majors: everything you need to know, 7 things principals can do to make a teacher observation valuable, 3 easy teacher outfits to tackle parent-teacher conferences, fascinating essay topics to write about consumerism.

Fascinating Topics To Write About Consumerism

• Andy Warhol’s View of American Consumerism
• The Profitability of Consumerism and Gender Roles
• Buddhism, Consumerism, War, and Environmental Crisis
• Fast Consumerism Aiding Type II Diabetes Development
• American Consumerism and the Environmental Situation in the United States
• Clustering Boycotting Consumers: New Insights into the Relationship Between Institutional Trust and Political Consumerism
• Evidence from Swedish Central Government Agencies on Consumerism and Control
• Managerialism, Consumerism, and Public Sector Performance Measurement in the United States
• Blind Consumerism and the Basic Consumer Characteristics
• Consumerism, Competition, and the Other Investigating Economic Competition Ethics
• Universities Are Being Taken Over By Consumerism
• Children’s Consumption, Television, and the Internet
• Consumerism, Industrialization, and Social Change in 18th-Century Britain
• Advertising and Brand Names in Consumerism
• Consumerism in Health Care: A New Marketing Trend
• A Strategic Behavioral Model for Green Consumerism and Ecolabelling
• Consumerism and the Free Market
• Consumerism and Christianity in Comparison
• Effects of Capitalism and Consumerism on Social Class Division
• Negative Effects of Consumerism on All Aspects of Society

Research Topics About Consumerism

• Discussing How the Western World Transformed Societies Fueled a Zombies of Culture Consumerism
• Consumerism in the 1920’s Society and the New Culture
• Disposable Society: A Combination of Capitalism and Consumerism?
• What Susan Sontag Teaches Us About the Social Web and Visual Culture Through Aesthetic Consumerism and the Violence of Photography
• Advertising and Consumerism in the Twenty-First Century
• Can Green Consumption Take the Place of Environmental Regulation?
• Analyzing the Effects of Consumerism on Native Americans
• Consumerism and Changing Societal Demands
• Lures of Dolls and Consumerism
• Global Consumerism Role in the Loss of Cultural Diversity
• Consumerism and the Internet’s Impact
• Corporate Hegemony, Consumerism, and Corruption
• Explaining Consumerism Using Zygmunt Bauman’s Ideas
• Polish Seniors’ Environmental Awareness, Green Consumerism, and Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behavior
• Consumerism and Its Impact on Society
• Harry Potter and Azkaban’s Consumerism
• American Consumerism and Its Evolution Since World War I
• Advertising Encourages Excessive Consumption
• Trends in the Nineteenth Century, Consumerism, and Women’s Fashions
• Consumerism: Brand and Consumption Mindset

Questions About Consumerism

• What Impact Does Consumerism Have on Outsourcing?
• How Do Citizenship Standards Distinguish Boycotting From Buycotting?
• What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Consumerism?
• What Impact Does Consumerism Have on the Meaning of American Freedom?
• What Are the Major Consumer Forces Today?
• How Has Consumerism Affected the City of London?
• What Factors Influence Consumerism?
• How Has Consumerism Affected America’s Children?
• Are There Any Advantages to Consumerism?
• What Impact Did Consumerism Have on the United States of America?
• What is the Role of Product Labels in Consumerism (Like Food or Clothing Brands)?
• How Did Pop Art Challenge Consumerism Beliefs?
• Do You Believe Holidays such as Christmas and Easter Have Become Overly Commercialized?
• How Did the 1960s Fashion Industry Reflect the Changing Position of Consumerism and Youth Culture?
• Is It Possible to Escape the Consumerist Culture?
• What Impact Does Consumerism Have on Religion and Spirituality?
• Do You Believe that Women Consume More than Men? Why?
• How Do Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons’ Works Relate to Consumerism?
• Are Teenagers and Children Becoming More Consumerist?
• What Impact Has Globalization and Consumerism Had on Society and Consumer Ethical Values?
• Do The Media and Society influence Teenage Consumerism?
• What Impact Has Graphic Design Had on Pop Culture and Consumerism?
• Are Consumerists, in Your Opinion, Less Creative?
• How Did Psychoanalysis Influence Consumerism and Public Relations?
• What Exactly Is Ethical Consumerism?
• What Impact Has the Internet Had on Consumerism?
• Is Consumerism a Disease?
• What Impact Does Consumerism Have on the Environment and Nature?
• Which Jobs Are Inextricably Linked to Consumerism?

Fascinating Essay Topics To Write About Construction ...

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What Should You Know About Choosing Consumerism Essays Topics?

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13 May 2020

"The things that you own end up owning you." This famous quote from the protagonist of “The Fight Club” Tyler Durden sums up the concept of consumerism. Today we live in a world that is obsessed with consumer culture. Consumption tends to structure our everyday agendas and encompass our routine. However, consumerism can’t be called a definitive trait of modern society as it takes its roots deep in the past. Being a broad and diverse subject, consumerism is interesting to research.

One of the best ways for students to dive into the topic of consumption and understand its essence and the effect on people’s lives is to prepare a research paper. If you were assigned to a consumerism essay, you should show the best of your writing and analytic skills in order to score high. Although extensive research is essential, the success of your essay will lean upon the topic you pick. In this post, our writing experts offer you some helpful recommendations and a list of smart consumerism essay topics that will inspire you to prepare a brilliant work.

In case inspiration is not exactly what you need, and you’re looking for more hands-on assistance, there’s a solution for you, too. WePapers.com experts can craft a unique paper according to your instructions and strict academic requirements. Get in touch to know more or place an order today!

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Where Do You Start Writing a Consumerism Essay From?

The goal of a consumerism essay is to describe the reasons and effects of people equating their personal happiness by purchasing various material possessions and consuming them. Consumerism papers may appear to be somewhat more demanding than the papers on other subjects. They require a deep understanding of a topic, excellent analytical skills, and a sufficient amount of accurate data that will aid you in supporting the thesis of your essay. However, with due effort and attention, you will definitely craft an impeccable work that will impress your teacher.

The structure of a consumerism essay is quite standard. Here’s a basic consumerism essay outline that you can follow:

• Introduction with a thesis statement.
• Main ‘body’ part with the key arguments in favor or against your paper’s point.
• A conclusion which sums up your research.
• Reference page.

Before you start preparing the essay, make sure to ask your teacher about any specific requirements, formatting style, and the length of the essay in order not to miss out on anything.

What Topic Ideas Will Make Your Consumerism Essay Stand Out?

Despite all writing challenges, the theme of consumerism will surprise you with the variety of topics you can research on. A topic you choose will significantly affect the success of your essay. While an interesting one will make the process of researching and writing fun, a boring or confusing topic can turn it into drudgery. This is why you should opt for a topic that evokes your interest.

Further we provide a list of selected consumerism topics that can inspire you on writing an impressive essay:

• The effect of advertising on the health of society.
• The concept of consumerism and its ethical
• The theme of consumerism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
• Consumption and consumerism in the modern fashion industry.
• Different portrayal and perception of consumerism in famous movies and series.
• Showrooming and its effects of consumerism.
• In what ways does advertising manipulate children for profit?
• The concept of anti-consumerism in the works of Ginsberg, Roth, and Kerouac.
• Innovation as a basis of the capitalist system.
• The lending industry and the changes in the American philosophy of consumerism.
• Key changes in sales and consumerism during the Booming 1950s.
• The term ‘consumerism’ and its economist use.
• Can consumerism be called a morally correct choice?
• The global effects of consumerism on the environment.
• The effects of consumerism on the portrayal of a person’s self-image and their social status.
• Materialism and consumerism in the US.
• The role of consumerism in the global economy.
• The significance of Apple Macintosh with the American Consumerism.

It’s hard to deny that consumerism research papers are more demanding than those on other themes and subjects. At some point, you may realize you require competent advice or even assistance. Just like hundreds of other students, you may have difficulties finding a good essay topic or accurate facts to support your point. Some senior students may need case study writing help in consumerism as this type of assignment is more complicated. The good news is that you don’t have to deal with all these challenges alone; instead, apply to a reliable online writing service, such as WePapers.com. Our experienced writers will tackle any task and prepare a perfect consumerism essay upon your request in no time. Check out our paper writing service reviews by students who entrusted us their worries to see that we never leave our customers unsatisfied. WePapers.com is your best emergency writing help and an easy way to effectively tackle many academic challenges!

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — Economic Theory — Consumerism

Essays on Consumerism

If you're looking for a cool topic for your next essay, consider diving into the world of consumerism. It's a super relevant and interesting topic that affects all of us in one way or another. Plus, there are so many different angles to explore, making it a great choice for your next writing assignment.

When it comes to choosing a topic for your consumerism essay, think about what aspect of consumerism interests you the most. Are you passionate about the environmental impact of consumerism? Or maybe you want to explore the psychological effects of consumer culture on individuals? Once you've got a topic in mind, you can start brainstorming ideas and doing some research to narrow it down.

If you're thinking about writing an argumentative essay on consumerism, consider topics like "The impact of consumerism on the environment" or "The role of advertising in promoting consumerism." For a cause and effect essay, you could explore topics such as "The effects of consumerism on mental health" or "The causes and consequences of overconsumption."

If you're more into sharing your opinions, an opinion essay on consumerism might be the way to go. You could write about "The pros and cons of consumer culture" or "My personal experience with consumerism." And if you're all about sharing information, an informative essay on consumerism could cover topics like "The history of consumerism" or "How consumerism shapes society."

Now, let's take a look at an example of a consumerism essay. For a thesis statement, you could go with something like "Consumerism has a significant impact on our environment and our mental well-being." In your , you might want to start with a thought-provoking quote or a shocking statistic to grab your reader's attention. And in your , you can summarize your main points and leave your reader with something to think about, like a call to action or a question to ponder.

So, there you have it - a quick guide to writing an awesome essay on consumerism. Have fun exploring this fascinating topic and happy writing!

Impact of Consumerism on Personal Identity

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A Study on How Consumerism Has Affected Families in America and China

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130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Questions on everything from mental health and sports to video games and dating. Which ones inspire you to take a stand?

By The Learning Network

Note: We have an updated version of this list, with 300 new argumentative writing prompts .

What issues do you care most about? What topics do you find yourself discussing passionately, whether online, at the dinner table, in the classroom or with your friends?

In Unit 5 of our free yearlong writing curriculum and related Student Editorial Contest , we invite students to research and write about the issues that matter to them, whether that’s Shakespeare , health care , standardized testing or being messy .

But with so many possibilities, where does one even begin? Try our student writing prompts.

In 2017, we compiled a list of 401 argumentative writing prompts , all drawn from our daily Student Opinion column . Now, we’re rounding up 130 more we’ve published since then ( available here as a PDF ). Each prompt links to a free Times article as well as additional subquestions that can help you think more deeply about it.

You might use this list to inspire your own writing and to find links to reliable resources about the issues that intrigue you. But even if you’re not participating in our contest, you can use these prompts to practice the kind of low-stakes writing that can help you hone your argumentation skills.

So scroll through the list below with questions on everything from sports and mental health to dating and video games and see which ones inspire you to take a stand.

Please note: Many of these prompts are still open to comment by students 13 and up.

Technology & Social Media

1. Do Memes Make the Internet a Better Place? 2. Does Online Public Shaming Prevent Us From Being Able to Grow and Change? 3. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media? 4. Should the Adults in Your Life Be Worried by How Much You Use Your Phone? 5. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? 6. Should Kids Be Social Media Influencers? 7. Does Grammar Still Matter in the Age of Twitter? 8. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? 9. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating?

10. Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing? 11. Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy? 12. How Do You Think American Education Could Be Improved? 13. Should Schools Test Their Students for Nicotine and Drug Use? 14. Can Social Media Be a Tool for Learning and Growth in Schools? 15. Should Facial Recognition Technology Be Used in Schools? 16. Should Your School Day Start Later? 17. How Should Senior Year in High School Be Spent? 18. Should Teachers Be Armed With Guns? 19. Is School a Place for Self-Expression? 20. Should Students Be Punished for Not Having Lunch Money? 21. Is Live-Streaming Classrooms a Good Idea? 22. Should Gifted and Talented Education Be Eliminated? 23. What Are the Most Important Things Students Should Learn in School? 24. Should Schools Be Allowed to Censor Student Newspapers? 25. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 26. Should Teachers and Professors Ban Student Use of Laptops in Class? 27. Should Schools Teach About Climate Change? 28. Should All Schools Offer Music Programs? 29. Does Your School Need More Money? 30. Should All Schools Teach Cursive? 31. What Role Should Textbooks Play in Education? 32. Do Kids Need Recess?

College & Career

33. What Is Your Reaction to the College Admissions Cheating Scandal? 34. Is the College Admissions Process Fair? 35. Should Everyone Go to College? 36. Should College Be Free? 37. Are Lavish Amenities on College Campuses Useful or Frivolous? 38. Should ‘Despised Dissenters’ Be Allowed to Speak on College Campuses? 39. How Should the Problem of Sexual Assault on Campuses Be Addressed? 40. Should Fraternities Be Abolished? 41. Is Student Debt Worth It?

Mental & Physical Health

42. Should Students Get Mental Health Days Off From School? 43. Is Struggle Essential to Happiness? 44. Does Every Country Need a ‘Loneliness Minister’? 45. Should Schools Teach Mindfulness? 46. Should All Children Be Vaccinated? 47. What Do You Think About Vegetarianism? 48. Do We Worry Too Much About Germs? 49. What Advice Should Parents and Counselors Give Teenagers About Sexting? 50. Do You Think Porn Influences the Way Teenagers Think About Sex?

Race & Gender

51. How Should Parents Teach Their Children About Race and Racism? 52. Is America ‘Backsliding’ on Race? 53. Should All Americans Receive Anti-Bias Education? 54. Should All Companies Require Anti-Bias Training for Employees? 55. Should Columbus Day Be Replaced With Indigenous Peoples Day? 56. Is Fear of ‘The Other’ Poisoning Public Life? 57. Should the Boy Scouts Be Coed? 58. What Is Hard About Being a Boy?

59. Can You Separate Art From the Artist? 60. Are There Subjects That Should Be Off-Limits to Artists, or to Certain Artists in Particular? 61. Should Art Come With Trigger Warnings? 62. Should Graffiti Be Protected? 63. Is the Digital Era Improving or Ruining the Experience of Art? 64. Are Museums Still Important in the Digital Age? 65. In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? 66. Is Hollywood Becoming More Diverse? 67. What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? 68. Do We Need More Female Superheroes? 69. Do Video Games Deserve the Bad Rap They Often Get? 70. Should Musicians Be Allowed to Copy or Borrow From Other Artists? 71. Is Listening to a Book Just as Good as Reading It? 72. Is There Any Benefit to Reading Books You Hate?

73. Should Girls and Boys Sports Teams Compete in the Same League? 74. Should College Athletes Be Paid? 75. Are Youth Sports Too Competitive? 76. Is It Selfish to Pursue Risky Sports Like Extreme Mountain Climbing? 77. How Should We Punish Sports Cheaters? 78. Should Technology in Sports Be Limited? 79. Should Blowouts Be Allowed in Youth Sports? 80. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams and Their Fans to Use Native American Names, Imagery and Gestures?

81. Is It Wrong to Focus on Animal Welfare When Humans Are Suffering? 82. Should Extinct Animals Be Resurrected? If So, Which Ones? 83. Are Emotional-Support Animals a Scam? 84. Is Animal Testing Ever Justified? 85. Should We Be Concerned With Where We Get Our Pets? 86. Is This Exhibit Animal Cruelty or Art?

Parenting & Childhood

87. Who Should Decide Whether a Teenager Can Get a Tattoo or Piercing? 88. Is It Harder to Grow Up in the 21st Century Than It Was in the Past? 89. Should Parents Track Their Teenager’s Location? 90. Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised? 91. How Should Parents Talk to Their Children About Drugs? 92. What Should We Call Your Generation? 93. Do Other People Care Too Much About Your Post-High School Plans? 94. Do Parents Ever Cross a Line by Helping Too Much With Schoolwork? 95. What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children? 96. What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Snowplow Parents’? 97. Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid? 98. When Do You Become an Adult?

Ethics & Morality

99. Why Do Bystanders Sometimes Fail to Help When They See Someone in Danger? 100. Is It Ethical to Create Genetically Edited Humans? 101. Should Reporters Ever Help the People They Are Covering? 102. Is It O.K. to Use Family Connections to Get a Job? 103. Is $1 Billion Too Much Money for Any One Person to Have? 104. Are We Being Bad Citizens If We Don’t Keep Up With the News? 105. Should Prisons Offer Incarcerated People Education Opportunities? 106. Should Law Enforcement Be Able to Use DNA Data From Genealogy Websites for Criminal Investigations? 107. Should We Treat Robots Like People?

Government & Politics

108. Does the United States Owe Reparations to the Descendants of Enslaved People? 109. Do You Think It Is Important for Teenagers to Participate in Political Activism? 110. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 111. What Should Lawmakers Do About Guns and Gun Violence? 112. Should Confederate Statues Be Removed or Remain in Place? 113. Does the U.S. Constitution Need an Equal Rights Amendment? 114. Should National Monuments Be Protected by the Government? 115. Should Free Speech Protections Include Self Expression That Discriminates? 116. How Important Is Freedom of the Press? 117. Should Ex-Felons Have the Right to Vote? 118. Should Marijuana Be Legal? 119. Should the United States Abolish Daylight Saving Time? 120. Should We Abolish the Death Penalty? 121. Should the U.S. Ban Military-Style Semiautomatic Weapons? 122. Should the U.S. Get Rid of the Electoral College? 123. What Do You Think of President Trump’s Use of Twitter? 124. Should Celebrities Weigh In on Politics? 125. Why Is It Important for People With Different Political Beliefs to Talk to Each Other?

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How to cite page numbers in apa, what is accidental plagiarism, is summarizing books a good way to retain knowledge redditors weigh in, consumerism: the scourge of modern society essay sample, example.

One of the most powerful forces that contribute to the promotion of consumerism is the omnipresent advertising in capitalistic societies. Advertising is an essential component in the marketing strategy of any product, but at the same time, it affects the human mind. Advertisements portray products as necessary objects that are required to keep one’s social identity secure. Thus, they do not represent wants, but instead create a need for luxury goods. Numerous print and TV advertisements persuade potential customers that it is a Gucci bag, a Calvin Klein dress, or a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes that define their personality and character—not the personal traits they possess.

The youth are probably the most vulnerable target of advertisers. Grown-ups can often distinguish between what they need and do not need; however, young people tend to be less capable of critical thinking. Since their world is created by their aspirations to keep up with modern trends and acquire the most up-to-date gadgets, they are easier to manipulate (Schor, 2004, p.11). Quindlen (2008) provides a perfect example of this manipulation. She confesses that television advertising “made [her] want a Chatty Cathy doll so much as a kid that when [she] saw her under the tree [her] head almost exploded” (para. 3).

On the other hand, advertising is not the only phenomena responsible for the increasing numbers of people obsessed with the need to buy new items. Marketers have begun to compare consumers to roaches, “You spray them and spray them and they get immune after a while” (From Consumerism to Personal Bankruptcy, n.d., para. 10) . This refers to how advertisements hardly have an effect on most people anymore. While advertisements are beguiling, if they were that effective, people would be rushing to stores to purchase the advertised products in higher numbers than already present.

Another reason why the idea of permanent acquisition of goods has become dominant in the minds of many people, both adults and adolescents, is the lack of skills necessary to maintain their own resources. Since they did not earn it themselves, the youth are often unaware of the value of money; they demand that their parents satisfy the desires instilled in them by advertising. According to a survey designed to measure children’s knowledge about financial management conducted in the United States by the charity organization Jump$tart Coalition, survey-takers scored an average of 52 percent. This percentage indicates a weak awareness of the usage of money (From Consumerism to Personal Bankruptcy, n.d., para. 16). Even adults would rather spend their disposable income on a new suit or an extravagant holiday than save it. On the other hand, many university and high school students take part-time jobs as graders or professors’ assistants not only to broaden their knowledge, but also to learn to use their hard-earned cash capably. Adults’ earnings have hit an all-time low due to the recession, and many of them are now trying to control their expenditure and pay off their debts. These factors weaken the indirect link between poor financial management and consumerism.

Also worth considering is the yearly reduction in the number of people who want to save their money for the future. If consumers do not save their money, they will obviously use it to buy innumerable useless goods, resulting in consumerism. An article published in the Christian Science Monitor asserts, “Americans’ personal savings fell to -0.5% last year, the first time since the Depression that the savings rate has been negative for a year… it reflects how irresistible consumerism has become in the American psyche” (para. 3).

Another significant factor that plays into consumerism is the way that people’s priorities have recently changed. In the past, consumers were unable to purchase luxuries just because they wanted them. Due to insufficient funds, they had to focus on their needs rather than their wants (From Consumerism to Personal Bankruptcy, n.d., para. 18). Necessity forced them to choose what they needed most; thus, they developed the skills necessary to sort their needs by order of importance. This prevented them from experiencing the additional stress connected with paying off loans and debts. Nowadays, the advent of credit facilities allow consumers to have an almost unlimited possibility for purchasing what they wanted but could not afford. Credit cards allow buyers to have the impression that they have inexhaustible financial resources. The only choice people have to make now is what they want to buy first. This creates the illusion that desirable products are easily accessible; the world is perceived as one gigantic mall. In addition, according to the article “Dhamma in the age of Globalization” (2008), an average modern individual “sees oneself as the center to judge the world, treating others as mere tools to satisfy one’s goals.” This attitude has led to shaping a consumerist attitude towards life with its dire consequences.

The spreading of the consumerist ideology is facilitated by a combination of different factors, among the most significant being an overexposure to advertising, a lack of skills to maintain financial resources, and a global shift in people’s values. Logically, it therefore seems there are at least two ways to prevent, or at least slow down, the further expansion of this thoughtless attitude to life, money, and goods: supplying financial education to explain to various age groups how to plan a budget more effectively—additionally, teaching them to examine the psychological motives of their uncontrolled desire for acquisition, to see what tricks manufacturers and advertisers use to catch their audience’s attention, and to recognize how they also manipulate consumer’s wishes and point of view. The benefits of a critical attitude toward saving more money, therefore reducing stress, should be emphasized. Teaching the youth the value of money, along with the skill to distinguish their needs from their wants, would also contribute to forming a healthy attitude towards goods. A world without consumerism is highly unlikely to occur in the near future, as it is too complex of a issue to eliminate entirely. However, the recession that erupted a few months ago has had a colossal impact on consumer spending. If this trend of reduced spending continues for the next several years, it might reverse consumerism’s materialistic illusion of life.

References:

Quindlen, Anna. (2008). Stuff is Not Salvation. Newsweek.

Schor, Juliet. (2004). Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture. Scribner.

(2013). From Consumerism to Personal Bankruptcy: Its Causes & Its Consequences. Fong and Partners Inc.

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ReviseSociology

A level sociology revision – education, families, research methods, crime and deviance and more!

Sociological Theories of Consumerism and Consumption

The consumption of goods and services is so thoroughly embedded into our ordinary, everyday lives that many aspects of its practice go largely unquestioned – not only the environmental and social consequences have got lost on the way, but also they very notion that consumption itself is a choice, and that, once our basic needs are met, consumption in its symbolic sense is not necessary and thus is itself a choice.

In sociological terms one might say that contemporary reflexivity is bounded by consumption – that is to say that most of the things most of us think about in life – be they pertaining to self-construction, relationship maintenance, or instrumental goal-attainment, involve us making choices about (the strictly unnecessary) things we might consume.

Even though I think that any attempt to achieve happiness through consumption will ultimately result in misery, I would hardly call anyone who tries to do so stupid – because all they are going is conforming to a number of recent social changes which have led to our society being based around historically high levels of consumption.

There are numerous explanations for the growth of a diverse consumer culture and thus the intense levels of unnecessary symbolic consumption engaged in by most people today – the overview taken below is primarily from Joel Stillerman (2015) who seems to identify five major changes which underpin recent changes in consumption since WW2.

The first explanation looks to the 1960s counter culture which despite having a reputation for being anti-consumerist, was really more about non-conformity, a rejection of standardised mass-consumption and promoting individual self expression. Ironically, the rejection of standardised consumption became a model for the niche-marketing of today, much of which is targeted towards people who wish to express themselves in any manor of ways – through clothing, music, foodism, craft beers, or experiences. Some members of the counter culture in fact found profit in establishing their own niche-consumer outlets, with even some Punks (surely the Zenith of anti-consumerism?!) going on to develop their own clothing brands.

A second discussion surrounding the normalisation of consumerism centres around changes in the class structure, following the work Bourdieu and Featherstone (2000). Basically these theorists see the intensification of consumption as being related to the emergence of the ‘new middle classes’ as a result of technological innovations and social changes leading to an increase in the number of people working in jobs such as the media and fashion.

Mike Featherstone focuses on what he calls the importance of ‘cultural intermediaries’ (who mainly work in the entertainment and personal care industries) who have adopted an ‘ethic of self-expression through consumption’ – in which they engage in self-care in order to improve their bodies and skills in order to gain social and economic capital.

The values of these early adopters has gradually filtered down to the rest of the population and this has resulted in the ‘aestheticisation of daily life’ – in which more and more people are now engaged in consumption in order to improve themselves and their social standing – as evidenced in various fitness classes, plastic surgery, and a whole load of ‘skills based’ pursuits such as cookery classes (yer signature bake if you like).

A third perspective focuses on individualisation – as advanced by the likes of Zygmunt Bauman and Ulrich Beck.

In their view, after World War II, universal access to higher education and social welfare benefits in Europe led to the erosion of traditional sources of identity provided by family, traditional authority, and work. Today, individuals are ‘free’ from the chains of external sources of identity, but this freedom comes at a price. Individuals are now compelled to give meaning to their lives without the certainty that they are making the right choice that in the past had come from tradition. Individuals are forced to be reflexive, to examine their own lives and to determine their own identities. In this context, consumption may be a useful vehicle for constructing a life narrative that gives focus and meaning to individuals.

As I’ve outlined in numerous blog posts before, Bauman especially sees this is a lot of work for individuals – a never ending task, and a task over which they have no choice but to engage in (actually I disagree here, individuals do have a choice, it’s just not that easy to see it, or carry it through!).

Fourthly , Post-modern analyses of consumption focus on the increasing importance of individuals to consumption. Building on the work of Lytoard etc. Firat and Venkatesh (1995) argue that changes to Western cultures have led to the erosion of modernist ideas of progress, overly simplified binary distinctions like production and consumption and the notion of the individual as a unified actor. They suggest that in contemporary societies production and consumption exist in a repeating cycle and retail cites and advertiser have increasingly focussed on producing symbols which individuals consume in order to construct identities.

These changes have led to increasing specialising of products and more visually compelling shopping environments, and F and V argue that these changes are liberating for individuals and they seek meaning and identity through consumption, which they can increasingly do outside of markets.

Fifthly – other researches have looked at the role of subcultures in contemporary society, where individuals consume in order to signify their identity as part of a group, and doing so can involve quite high levels of consumption, even if these groups appear quite deviant (McAlexander’s 1995 study of Harley Davidson riders looks interesting here, also Kozinet’s study of Star Trek fans).

Something which draws on numbers 3,4 and 5 above is the concept of consumer tribes (developed by Cova et al 2007) which are constantly in flux, made up by different individuals whose identities are multiple, diverse and playful – individuals in fact may be part of many tribes and enter and exit them as they choose.

Finally, Stillerman points out that underlying all of the above are two important background trends

• Firstly, there are the technological changes which made all of the above possible – the transport links and the communications technologies.
• Secondly there is the (often discussed) links to the global south as a source of cheap production.

Very finally I’m going to add in one more thing to the above – underlying the increase in and diversification of consumption is the fact that time has sped up – in the sense that fashions change faster than ever and products become obsolete faster than ever – hence putting increasing demands on people to spend more time and money year on year to keep up on the consumer treadmill….

So there you have it – there are numerous social trends which lie behind the increase in and diversification of consumption, so the next time you think you’re acting as an individual when you’re getting your latest tattoo, maybe think again matey!

Related Posts 

Consuming Life (Bauman, 2007) – A Summary of Chapter One

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160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024

April 3, 2024

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. However, a strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research and emotion while a strong argumentative essay should be based solely on facts, not feelings.

Moreover, each fact should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide:

• Introduction
• Supporting body paragraphs
• Paragraph(s) addressing common counterarguments

Argumentative Essay Format

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. The length of your paper will determine the amount of examples you need. In general, you’ll likely need at least two to three. Additionally, your examples should be as detailed as possible, citing specific research, case studies, statistics, or anecdotes.

In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

• Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, a good argumentative essay topic will be meaningful to you—writing is always stronger when you are interested in the subject matter. In addition, the topic should be complex with plenty of “pro” and “con” arguments. Avoid choosing a topic that is either widely accepted as fact or too narrow. For example, “Is the earth round?” would not be a solid choice.
• Research. Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Moreover, remember to look for (and research) possible counterarguments.
• Outline . Using the argument essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put your examples in order, focusing on logical flow. It’s often best to place your strongest example last.
• Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) Accordingly, just focus on getting the words down on paper.
• Does my thesis statement need to be adjusted?
• Which examples feel strongest? Weakest?
• Do the transitions flow smoothly?
• Do I have a strong opening paragraph?
• Does the conclusion reinforce my argument?

Tips for Revising an Argument Essay

Evaluating your own work can be difficult, so you might consider the following strategies:

• Read your work aloud to yourself.
• Record yourself reading your paper, and listen to the recording.
• Reverse outline your paper. Firstly, next to each paragraph, write a short summary of that paragraph’s main points/idea. Then, read through your reverse outline. Does it have a logical flow? If not, where should you adjust?
• Print out your paper and cut it into paragraphs. What happens when you rearrange the paragraphs?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

• Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
• Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
• Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
• Should cell phones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
• Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
• Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
• Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
• Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
• Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
• Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
• Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?
• Should parents be allowed to post pictures of their children on social media without their consent?
• Should fathers have a legal say in whether their partners do or do not receive an abortion?
• Can television have positive developmental benefits on children?
• Should the driving age be raised to prevent teen car accidents?
• Should adult children be legally required to care for their aging parents?

Education Argument Essay Topics

• Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
• Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
• To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
• Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
• Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
• Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books? If so, what types?
• What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
• Should schools push to abolish homework?
• Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
• Should universities do away with Greek life?
• Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
• Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
• Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
• Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
• Should we require schools to provide sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
• Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
• Should public schools remove the line “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance?
• Should college admissions officers be allowed to look at students’ social media accounts?
• Should schools abolish their dress codes, many of which unfairly target girls, LGBTQ students, and students of color?
• Should schools be required to stock free period products in bathrooms?
• Should legacy students receive preferential treatment during the college admissions process?
• Are school “voluntourism” trips ethical?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
• Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
• Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
• Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
• Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
• Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
• Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
• Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
• Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
• Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
• Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
• Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
• Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
• Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
• Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
• Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
• Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?
• Should term limits be imposed on Senators and Representatives? If so, how long?
• Should women be allowed into special forces units?
• Should the federal government implement stronger, universal firearm licensing laws?
• Do public sex offender registries help prevent future sex crimes?
• Should the government be allowed to regulate family size?
• Should all adults legally be considered mandated reporters?
• Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
• Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Health/Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
• In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
• Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
• Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
• Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
• Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?
• Should organ donation be mandatory?
• Is cloning animals ethical?
• Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, what age?
• Is surrogacy ethical?
• Should birth control require a prescription?
• Should minors have access to emergency contraception?
• Should hospitals be for-profit or nonprofit institutions?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics — Continued

Social media argumentative essay topics.

• Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
• Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
• Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
• Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
• Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
• Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
• Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
• Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
• Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
• Should the United States ban TikTok?
• Is social media harmful to children?
• Should employers screen applicants’ social media accounts during the hiring process?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

• Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
• Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
• Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
• Should the government regulate religious practices?
• Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
• Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
• Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
• Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
• Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
• Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
• Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
• Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
• Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)
• Should the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
• Should public schools be allowed to teach children about religious holidays?

Science Argument Essay Topics

• Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
• Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
• Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
• Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
• Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
• What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
• Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
• Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
• Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
• Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
• Is the animal testing worth the potential to save human lives?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

• Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
• How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
• Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
• Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
• Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
• Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
• Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
• Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?
• Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
• Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
• Should sports teams be divided by gender?
• Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
• Should women be allowed on NFL teams?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
• Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
• Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
• Should websites require proof of age from their users? If so, what age?
• Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
• Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
• Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
• Does computing harm the environment?
• Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
• Are electric cars really better for the environment?
• Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents?
• Should private jets be banned?
• Do violent video games contribute to real-life violence?

Business Argument Essay Topics

• Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
• Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
• Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
• Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
• Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
• Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
• Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
• Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
• Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
• Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
• Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
• Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
• Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
• Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
• Should companies be allowed to fire employees based on political views or activities?
• Should tipping practices be phased out?
• Should employees who choose not to have children be given the same amount of paid leave as parents?
• Should MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) be illegal?
• Should employers be allowed to factor tattoos and personal appearance into hiring decisions?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? You might consider checking out the following:

• 125 Good Debate Topics for High School Students
• 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
• 7 Best Places to Study
• Guide to the IB Extended Essay
• How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
• AP Lit Reading List
• How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay
• 49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
• High School Success

Lauren Green

With a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, Lauren has been a professional writer for over a decade. She is the author of the chapbook  A Great Dark House  (Poetry Society of America, 2023) and a forthcoming novel (Viking/Penguin).

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50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and take a position on it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject, otherwise you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. (You don't need to know everything, though.) Part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one that you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure to get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

50 Possible Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay, opinions matter and controversy is based on opinions, which are, hopefully, backed up by facts.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

• Is global climate change  caused by humans?
• Is the death penalty effective?
• Is our election process fair?
• Is torture ever acceptable?
• Should men get paternity leave from work?
• Are school uniforms beneficial?
• Do we have a fair tax system?
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Is cheating out of control?
• Are we too dependent on computers?
• Should animals be used for research?
• Should cigarette smoking be banned?
• Are cell phones dangerous?
• Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
• Do we have a throwaway society?
• Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
• Should companies market to children?
• Should the government have a say in our diets?
• Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
• Should members of Congress have term limits?
• Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
• Are CEOs paid too much?
• Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
• Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
• Should creationism be taught in public schools?
• Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
• Should English be the official language of the United States?
• Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
• Should the alcohol drinking age be increased or decreased?
• Should everyone be required to recycle?
• Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
• Is it good that same-sex couples are able to marry?
• Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
• Does boredom lead to trouble?
• Should schools be in session year-round ?
• Does religion cause war?
• Should the government provide health care?
• Should abortion be illegal?
• Are girls too mean to each other?
• Is homework harmful or helpful?
• Is the cost of college too high?
• Is college admission too competitive?
• Should euthanasia be illegal?
• Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
• Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
• Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
• Is affirmative action fair?
• Is public prayer okay in schools?
• Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
• Is greater gun control a good idea?
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Consumerism Argumentative Essay Sample

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: United States , World , Shopping , Bible , Food , Customers , Life , Culture

Words: 1400

Published: 12/04/2019

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The way of life of a modern society is quite interesting, and far removed from the ways people lived in previous eras. In the industrial age, mass production has created a market where, provided you live in the right place, you can get virtually anything you want. In fact, the focus of a consumerist society is to gather as many things as possible; the determination of status in this type of world is based on how much you have, and how much those things cost. This is more true in America than it is in any other country, given the vast resources and the substantial control that American industry has over the world economy. However, it can be argued that the overemphasis on consumerism that has been found in the modern world has led to a moral bankruptcy which turns a blind eye to the poor in favor of holding on to whatever we wish to keep.

Americans consume more than any other people in the world - we constantly take, take, and take, and there must be a reason for this. Consuming so much can take a moral and ethical toll on a people - entitlement can take place, breeding resentment and obsession with getting the next thing. Since Americans consume so much, and this very consumption can have dramatic effects on the fiber of a people's principles, it stands to reason that Americans are facing a crisis of consumerism. This obsession with materialism must, at the very least, be examined further if it is to be determined that said consumerism should be accepted as "the American way."

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, people lived in relative scarcity; things were accepted as they were given to people, and people merely worked within their own limitations. After the Industrial Revolution and the advances in technology that started with World War II, however, Americans found themselves at the start of a brand new age - more and more new technologies, fashions and medicines were being created, more than they could possibly keep up with. At the same time, they had the means and the will to work towards possessing these things. Thus, the consumer culture was born - advertising and marketing worked toward making people want all the new things that were being created. The new American lifestyle was created, where everyone had a house with a white picket fence, their own dishwasher and speedboat, and so on - an ideal was made that every American was told they could reach. So reach they did; people worked harder, prices fell, manufacturing methods improved to make things cheaper to buy as income rose, making it easy to find products that nearly every American citizen would buy. Of course, that has led to a diminishing of certain principles along the way.

This trend of consumerism extends even to the clothes people wear. People are extremely obsessed with fashion, and American consumerism has lent itself to a clothes-buying culture that is nearly backwards in its assumptions of what people want, or why they want it. There are trends in consumer culture that create the image of poverty; buying ratty, distressed clothes at high-end stores for lots of money, for example. This is one of the symptoms of American consumer culture - utility is no longer the issue, but consumerism is tied into social status and prestige. To have more is to be more, and that equates to buying things that people do not need. Junior jet-setters become the new celebrities, providing another rung on the social ladder for ordinary people to aspire to - particularly in terms of the clothes they wear.

Mass production of food has led to a large food surplus in many industrialized nations; however, this has also led to a vast increase in obesity among those who can afford this food. The factorization of food has led to the super-sizing of America and American food intake; instead of making people buy two regularly sized things, people were found to want to buy one larger thing; this led the increasing of portions to fit the American appetite. American consumerism went along with it, and the result was an emphasis on value. People wanted more for their money, as they always do. When Americans in particular know (or are led to believe) they are getting a 'deal,' they will more often than not take advantage of it. The most egregious aspect of this is that they will take the deal, even though it is more than they need or want. This is further evidence of the American taste for more leading to a compromising of principles and existing social ideas for the sake of consuming.

All of these trends in consumerism stem from a central idea of the insecurity of the American people, particularly as they stand as the sole superpower remaining in the world. Americans are constantly in fear of falling behind, and are never satisfied with what they have. This leads them to consume more and more, in order to fill the hole they have in their lives with not having enough. This stems from the uniquely American cultural milieu, which is a melting pot of different cultures, as well as the overall prosperity of the majority of Americans.

It should be said that, perhaps, American consumerism is not as dire as one would think. It is the very push for materials and things that has led America to become a world superpower; their excess is a consequence of being able to have so much. This despair at 'not having enough' could be a symptom of their drive for excellence; they do not wish to simply rest on their laurels and let the world pass them by. There can be no question that consumerism is a cornerstone of American culture - it is the lifeblood of a capitalist society. However, there are those who could argue that this consumerism is good for America. The American thirst for achievement remains in many people, and so they wish to work hard to have the ability to buy the things they want. It is not enough to have lots of money; one must be able to get things with that money in order to display to their friends and family that they have made it.

There is a level at which capitalism and consumerism can go too far, though - when the illusion of choice is removed from the people and placed in the hands of those who know exactly how to push their psychological buttons. From the clothing companies, who sell a lifestyle rather than the exact clothes, to the food industry that offers unhealthy amounts of processed food for less than healthy, organic food, the need for profit - for more - has led Americans toward habits they simply have too hard a time breaking. This leads to overtreatment and an overall fear that they do not have enough. Given just how empty American life can seem to those who live in it, is it truly good to have more? Or will it merely make you sad that you don't have what the others have?

In conclusion, the uniquely American brand of consumerism is thought to be an overall destructive force in the lives of those who experience it. The life of excess that a constant search for resources and materials leads to can tend to create a sense of melancholy and emptiness, not to mention a fear for the future, that leads to those with means searching for more to fill that hole. Looking for potential solutions is hard; essentially, it would mean an end to the 'must have everything' mentality that pervades most of American culture. Consuming, in and of itself, is not a bad thing; in American consumer culture, however, it has gone too far, and the people are suffering as a result. This has led to a plateauing of the quest for excellence inherent to the American people; their search for identity and more things to consume and possess has led them to play it safe, and maintain their old lifestyles for fear of change.

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52 Argumentative Essay Ideas that are Actually Interesting

What’s covered:, how to pick a good argumentative essay topic, elements of a strong argumentative essay, argumentative essay idea example topics.

Are you having writer’s block? Coming up with an essay topic can be the hardest part of the process. You have very likely encountered argumentative essay writing in high school and have been asked to write your own. If you’re having trouble finding a topic, we’ve created a list of 52 essay ideas to help jumpstart your brainstorming process! In addition, this post will cover strategies for picking a topic and how to make your argument a strong one. Ultimately, the goal is to convince your reader. 

An argumentative essay tasks the writer with presenting an assertion and bolstering that assertion with proper research. You’ll present the claim’s authenticity. This means that whatever argument you’re making must be empirically true! Writing an argumentative essay without any evidence will leave you stranded without any facts to back up your claim. When choosing your essay topic, begin by thinking about themes that have been researched before. Readers will be more engaged with an argument that is supported by data.

This isn’t to say that your argumentative essay topic has to be as well-known, like “Gravity: Does it Exist?” but it shouldn’t be so obscure that there isn’t ample evidence. Finding a topic with multiple sources confirming its validity will help you support your thesis throughout your essay. If upon review of these articles you begin to doubt their worth due to small sample sizes, biased funding sources, or scientific disintegrity, don’t be afraid to move on to a different topic. Your ultimate goal should be proving to your audience that your argument is true because the data supports it.

The hardest essays to write are the ones that you don’t care about. If you don’t care about your topic, why should someone else? Topics that are more personal to the reader are immediately more thoughtful and meaningful because the author’s passion shines through. If you are free to choose an argumentative essay topic, find a topic where the papers you read and cite are fun to read. It’s much easier to write when the passion is already inside of you!

However, you won’t always have the choice to pick your topic. You may receive an assignment to write an argumentative essay that you feel is boring. There is still value in writing an argumentative essay on a topic that may not be of interest to you. It will push you to study a new topic, and broaden your ability to write on a variety of topics. Getting good at proving a point thoroughly and effectively will help you to both understand different fields more completely and increase your comfort with scientific writing.

Convincing Thesis Statement

It’s important to remember the general essay structure: an introduction paragraph with a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A strong thesis statement will set your essay up for success. What is it? A succinct, concise, and pithy sentence found in your first paragraph that summarizes your main point. Pour over this statement to ensure that you can set up your reader to understand your essay. You should also restate your thesis throughout your essay to keep your reader focused on your point.

Ample Research

A typical argumentative essay prompt may look like this: “What has been the most important invention of the 21st century? Support your claim with evidence.” This question is open-ended and gives you flexibility. But that also means it requires research to prove your point convincingly. The strongest essays weave scientific quotes and results into your writing. You can use recent articles, primary sources, or news sources. Maybe you even cite your own research. Remember, this process takes time, so be sure you set aside enough time to dive deep into your topic.

Clear Structure

If the reader can’t follow your argument, all your research could be for nothing! Structure is key to persuading your audience. Below are two common argumentative essay structures that you can use to organize your essays.

The Toulmin argument and the Rogerian argument each contain the four sections mentioned above but executes them in different ways. Be sure to familiarize yourself with both essay structures so that your essay is the most effective it can be.

The Toulmin argument has a straightforward presentation. You begin with your assertion, your thesis statement. You then list the evidence that supports your point and why these are valid sources. The bulk of your essay should be explaining how your sources support your claim. You then end your essay by acknowledging and discussing the problems or flaws that readers may find in your presentation. Then, you should list the solutions to these and alternative perspectives and prove your argument is stronger.

The Rogerian argument has a more complex structure. You begin with a discussion of what opposing sides do right and the validity of their arguments. This is effective because it allows you to piece apart your opponent’s argument. The next section contains your position on the questions. In this section, it is important to list problems with your opponent’s argument that your argument fixes. This way, your position feels much stronger. Your essay ends with suggesting a possible compromise between the two sides. A combination of the two sides could be the most effective solution.

• Is the death penalty effective?
• Is our election process fair?
• Is the electoral college outdated?
• Should we have lower taxes?
• How many Supreme Court Justices should there be?
• Should there be different term limits for elected officials?
• Should the drinking age be lowered?
• Does religion cause war?
• Should the country legalize marijuana?
• Should the country have tighter gun control laws?
• Should men get paternity leave?
• Should maternity leave be longer?
• Should smoking be banned?
• Should the government have a say in our diet?
• Should birth control be free?
• Should we increase access to condoms for teens?
• Should abortion be legal?
• Do school uniforms help educational attainment?
• Are kids better or worse students than they were ten years ago?
• Should students be allowed to cheat?
• Is school too long?
• Does school start too early?
• Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school?
• Is summer break still relevant?
• Is college too expensive?

Art / Culture

• How can you reform copyright law?
• What was the best decade for music?
• Do video games cause students to be more violent?
• Should content online be more harshly regulated?
• Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
• Should schools ban books?
• How important is art education?
• Should music be taught in school?
• Are music-sharing services helpful to artists?
• What is the best way to teach science in a religious school?
• Should fracking be legal?
• Should parents be allowed to modify their unborn children?
• Should vaccinations be required for attending school?
• Are GMOs helpful or harmful?
• Are we too dependent on our phones?
• Should everyone have internet access?
• Should internet access be free?
• Should the police force be required to wear body cams?
• Should social media companies be allowed to collect data from their users?
• How has the internet impacted human society?
• Should self-driving cars be allowed on the streets?
• Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
• Are professional athletes paid too much?
• Should the U.S. have more professional sports teams?
• Should sports be separated by gender?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• What are the best ways to increase safety in sports?

Where to Get More Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original argumentative essay ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 50 great argumentative essay topics for any assignment.

General Education

At some point, you’re going to be asked to write an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay is exactly what it sounds like—an essay in which you’ll be making an argument, using examples and research to back up your point.

But not all argumentative essay topics are created equal. Not only do you have to structure your essay right to have a good impact on the reader, but even your choice of subject can impact how readers feel about your work.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of writing argumentative essays, including what argumentative essays are, how to write a good one, and how to pick a topic that works for you. Then check out a list of argumentative essay ideas to help you get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is one that makes an argument through research. These essays take a position and support it through evidence, but, unlike many other kinds of essays, they are interested in expressing a specific argument supported by research and evidence.

A good argumentative essay will be based on established or new research rather than only on your thoughts and feelings. Imagine that you’re trying to get your parents to raise your allowance, and you can offer one of two arguments in your favor:

You should raise my allowance because I want you to.

You should raise my allowance because I’ve been taking on more chores without complaining.

The first argument is based entirely in feelings without any factual backup, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven. Your parents are more likely to respond positively to the second argument because it demonstrates that you have done something to earn the increased allowance. Similarly, a well-researched and reasoned argument will show readers that your point has a basis in fact, not just feelings.

The standard five-paragraph essay is common in writing argumentative essays, but it’s not the only way to write one. An argumentative essay is typically written in one of two formats, the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

The Toulmin model is the most common, comprised of an introduction with a claim (otherwise known as a thesis), with data to support it. This style of essay will also include rebuttals, helping to strengthen your argument by anticipating counterarguments.

The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Both essay styles rely on well-reasoned logic and supporting evidence to prove a point, just in two different ways.

The important thing to note about argumentative essays as opposed to other kinds of essays is that they aim to argue a specific point rather than to explain something or to tell a story. While they may have some things in common with analytical essays, the primary difference is in their objective—an argumentative essay aims to convince someone of something, whereas an analytical essay contextualizes a topic with research.

What Makes a Good Argumentative Essay?

To write an effective argumentative essay, you need to know what a good one looks like. In addition to a solid structure, you’ll need an argument, a strong thesis, and solid research.

An Argument

Unlike other forms of essays, you are trying to convince your reader of something. You’re not just teaching them a concept or demonstrating an idea—you’re constructing an argument to change the readers’ thinking.

You’ll need to develop a good argument, which encompasses not just your main point, but also all the pieces that make it up.

Think beyond what you are saying and include how you’re saying it. How will you take an idea and turn it into a complex and well thought out argument that is capable of changing somebody’s mind?

A Strong Thesis

The thesis is the core of your argument. What specific message are you trying to get across? State that message in one sentence, and that will be your thesis.

This is the foundation on which your essay is built, so it needs to be strong and well-reasoned. You need to be able to expand on it with facts and sources, not just feelings.

A good argumentative essay isn’t just based on your individual thoughts, but research. That can be citing sources and other arguments or it can mean direct research in the field, depending on what your argument is and the context in which you are arguing it.

Be prepared to back your thesis up with reporting from scientific journals, newspapers, or other forms of research. Having well-researched sources will help support your argument better than hearsay or assumptions. If you can’t find enough research to back up your point, it’s worth reconsidering your thesis or conducting original research, if possible.

How to Come Up With an Argumentative Essay Topic

Sometimes you may find yourself arguing things you don’t necessarily believe. That’s totally fine—you don’t actually have to wholeheartedly believe in what you’re arguing in order to construct a compelling argument.

However, if you have free choice of topic, it’s a good idea to pick something you feel strongly about. There are two key components to a good argumentative essay: a strong stance, and an assortment of evidence. If you’re interested and feel passionate about the topic you choose, you'll have an easier time finding evidence to support it, but it's the evidence that's most important. 

So, to choose a topic, think about things you feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively. You can make a list of ideas and narrow those down to a handful of things, then expand on those ideas with a few potential points you want to hit on.

For example, say you’re trying to decide whether you should write about how your neighborhood should ban weed killer, that your school’s lunch should be free for all students, or that the school day should be cut by one hour. To decide between these ideas, you can make a list of three to five points for each that cover the different evidence you could use to support each point.

For the weed killer ban, you could say that weed killer has been proven to have adverse impacts on bees, that there are simple, natural alternatives, and that weeds aren’t actually bad to have around. For the free lunch idea, you could suggest that some students have to go hungry because they can’t afford lunch, that funds could be diverted from other places to support free lunch, and that other items, like chips or pizza, could be sold to help make up lost revenue. And for the school day length example, you could argue that teenagers generally don’t get enough sleep, that you have too much homework and not enough time to do it, and that teenagers don’t spend enough time with their families.

You might find as you make these lists that some of them are stronger than others. The more evidence you have and the stronger you feel that that evidence is, the better the topic.  Of course, if you feel that one topic may have more evidence but you’d rather not write about it, it’s okay to pick another topic instead. When you’re making arguments, it can be much easier to find strong points and evidence if you feel passionate about our topic than if you don't.

50 Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

If you’re struggling to come up with topics on your own, read through this list of argumentative essay topics to help get you started!

• Should fracking be legal?
• Should parents be able to modify their unborn children?
• Do GMOs help or harm people?
• Should vaccinations be required for students to attend public school?
• Should world governments get involved in addressing climate change?
• Should Facebook be allowed to collect data from its users?
• Should self-driving cars be legal?
• Is it ethical to replace human workers with automation?
• Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
• Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society?

• Should college athletes be paid for being on sports teams?
• Should coaches and players make the same amount of money?
• Should sports be segregated by gender?
• Should the concept of designated hitters in baseball be abolished?
• Should US sports take soccer more seriously?
• Should religious organizations have to pay taxes?
• Should religious clubs be allowed in schools?
• Should “one nation under God” be in the pledge of allegiance?
• Should religion be taught in schools?
• Should clergy be allowed to marry?
• Should minors be able to purchase birth control without parental consent?
• Should the US switch to single-payer healthcare?
• Should assisted suicide be legal?
• Should dietary supplements and weight loss items like teas be allowed to advertise through influencers?
• Should doctors be allowed to promote medicines?

Government/Politics

• Is the electoral college an effective system for modern America?
• Should Puerto Rico become a state?
• Should voter registration be automatic?
• Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
• Should Supreme Court justices be elected?
• Should sex work be legalized?
• Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
• Should the death penalty be legal?
• Should animal testing be allowed?
• Should drug possession be decriminalized?

• Should unpaid internships be legal?
• Should minimum wage be increased?
• Should monopolies be allowed?
• Is universal basic income a good idea?
• Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?
• Are school uniforms a good idea?
• Should PE affect a student’s grades?
• Should college be free?
• Should Greek life in colleges be abolished?
• Should students be taught comprehensive sex ed?

Arts/Culture

• Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
• Should books with objectionable words be banned?
• Should content on YouTube be better regulated?
• Is art education important?
• Should art and music sharing online be allowed?

How to Argue Effectively

A strong argument isn’t just about having a good point. If you can’t support that point well, your argument falls apart.

One of the most important things you can do in writing a strong argumentative essay is organizing well. Your essay should have a distinct beginning, middle, and end, better known as the introduction, body and opposition, and conclusion.

This example follows the Toulmin model—if your essay follows the Rogerian model, the same basic premise is true, but your thesis will instead propose two conflicting viewpoints that will be resolved through evidence in the body, with your conclusion choosing the stronger of the two arguments.

Introduction

Your hook should draw the reader’s interest immediately. Questions are a common way of getting interest, as well as evocative language or a strong statistic

Don’t assume that your audience is already familiar with your topic. Give them some background information, such as a brief history of the issue or some additional context.

Your thesis is the crux of your argument. In an argumentative essay, your thesis should be clearly outlined so that readers know exactly what point you’ll be making. Don’t explain all your evidence in the opening, but do take a strong stance and make it clear what you’ll be discussing.

Your claims are the ideas you’ll use to support your thesis. For example, if you’re writing about how your neighborhood shouldn’t use weed killer, your claim might be that it’s bad for the environment. But you can’t just say that on its own—you need evidence to support it.

Evidence is the backbone of your argument. This can be things you glean from scientific studies, newspaper articles, or your own research. You might cite a study that says that weed killer has an adverse effect on bees, or a newspaper article that discusses how one town eliminated weed killer and saw an increase in water quality. These kinds of hard evidence support your point with demonstrable facts, strengthening your argument.

In your essay, you want to think about how the opposition would respond to your claims and respond to them. Don’t pick the weakest arguments, either— figure out what other people are saying and respond to those arguments with clearly reasoned arguments.

Demonstrating that you not only understand the opposition’s point, but that your argument is strong enough to withstand it, is one of the key pieces to a successful argumentative essay.

Conclusions are a place to clearly restate your original point, because doing so will remind readers exactly what you’re arguing and show them how well you’ve argued that point.

Summarize your main claims by restating them, though you don’t need to bring up the evidence again. This helps remind readers of everything you’ve said throughout the essay.

End by suggesting a picture of a world in which your argument and action are ignored. This increases the impact of your argument and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

A strong argumentative essay is one with good structure and a strong argument , but there are a few other things you can keep in mind to further strengthen your point.

When you’re crafting an argument, it can be easy to get distracted by all the information and complications in your argument. It’s important to stay focused—be clear in your thesis and home in on claims that directly support that thesis.

Be Rational

It’s important that your claims and evidence be based in facts, not just opinion. That’s why it’s important to use reliable sources based in science and reporting—otherwise, it’s easy for people to debunk your arguments.

Don’t rely solely on your feelings about the topic. If you can’t back a claim up with real evidence, it leaves room for counterarguments you may not anticipate. Make sure that you can support everything you say with clear and concrete evidence, and your claims will be a lot stronger!

What’s Next?

No matter what kind of essay you're writing, a strong plan will help you have a bigger impact. This guide to writing a college essay is a great way to get started on your essay organizing journey!

Brushing up on your essay format knowledge to prep for the SAT? Check out this list of SAT essay prompts to help you kickstart your studying!

A bunch of great essay examples can help you aspire to greatness, but bad essays can also be a warning for what not to do. This guide to bad college essays will help you better understand common mistakes to avoid in essay writing!

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay Sample 4 – Consumerism

In this post, we will look at an agree/disagree essay  example from the IELTS writing task 2 test. Students often ask if the questions are repeated year after year and the answer is no, but the topics are. There are so many questions written each year, you may find your practice answering various questions on different topics. For example, you could write essays to answer questions about education or the environment, which benefits you because you learn vocabulary associated with those topics and develop ideas that can help you in your writing test.

Practising writing IELTS task 2 essays  on a range of topics is a great way to learn new vocabulary for those topics, but also to practice your essay structures . You begin to develop your ideas around those topics, thinking of examples and giving your opinions. 

If you would like to purchase a 31  page PDF download that is easy to read and print out please take a look at the bookshop >

If you would like to learn how to structure an agree/disagree essay  please click the button below >

Take a look at the IELTS essay example  below >>

It is believed by some that the price of a service or an item is an essential factor to consider before deciding to purchase it.  This essay believes that people should take into consideration the cost before deciding to buy or not.  Firstly, this essay will discuss the benefits of considering the price before making a purchase and secondly, how wanting expensive items can lead to crippling debts.

On the one hand, people should be given enough time to think about the price of something before acquiring it. They need to consider if they can afford it as this can give them problems in the future. They need to think about their monthly expenses as well as their overall salary, to see if they can afford what they want, and making sure they do not get into debt. For example, a survey by the Business Mirror Philippines in 2010 revealed that 8 out of 10 Filipinos preferred to save the money needed before buying a new cellphone, rather than using a credit card because they were afraid of having monthly debts.

On the other hand, over the last few decades, the rise of credit card debt has been escalating.  More and more people are tempted to buy products without considering the price due to the pressure from advertisements, peer pressures and the ready access to credit cards. There are a lot of luxury items that have been purchased using credit cards, which in return has lured many individuals into debt. For instance, a study by the Metrobank of the Philippines reported that 99% of credit card applications came from minimum wage earners who wanted a credit card to purchase high-end products.

In conclusion, I agree that people should plan first before making a decision to buy expensive products or services for this could only give them problems in the future if they cannot afford it.

(Word count – 314 / Band score – 8)

Instructor Feedback on IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay Sample: Consumerism

• Task Achievement  – The essay provides an answer to the question asked, supported by relevant examples.
• Coherence and Cohesion  – The answer has been divided into clear logical paragraphs and each main body paragraph only has one main idea. There are cohesive links between the main body paragraphs .
• Lexical Resource  – There is evidence of a wide range of vocabulary, with no errors in the text.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy  – The answer has no grammatical errors. The sentences have a wide range of structures. 

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook , then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest . If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

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